Sir, – The comments at the Scottish Labour conference in Perth by London Mayor Sadiq Khan linking the SNP with encouraging racist and religious division point to an increased desperation of The Labour Party.
It is relevant to note that there were no examples brought forward by Mr Khan to back up his comments. Unfortunately, the mayor is displaying a dishonourable political trait that if you tell a lie often, then somehow it will resonate and stick with the electorate.
What he should have said was that he welcomed the actions of the Scottish Parliament, the SNP Scottish Government and Scottish MPs at Westminster in fighting inequality, welcoming refugees and working to protect the ability of EU nationals to continue working and living in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom post brexit.
That would be the response of a statesman. I think Mayor Khan has some work to do in this regard.
Iain Anderson.
41 West End,
St Monans.
Mayor wrong on racism
Sir, – It was deeply disappointing to hear London Mayor Sadiq Khan describe the SNP and Scottish nationalists as “racist and bigoted”.
Wrap yourself in the Union Flag, isolate yourself off, sing Rule Britannia, attack immigration and you are a patriot. Seek equality for Scotland in the world, welcome immigrants and seek an inclusive society and you are racist and bigoted, no different from the BNP.
Mr Khan, who should know all about racism, especially given the nature of the mayoral election, is a man I have respect for. But he clearly should know better than to describe those in Scotland who vote for the SNP, many being former Labour voters you would naturally expect he would be looking to win back, as racist.
There are, of course, two different types of nationalism. The British nationalism I have already highlighted that is ethnic in nature, seeking to unite the indigenous population against the perceived threat of outsiders.
For all of us in Europe, ethnic nationalism casts a long shadow.
Civic nationalism, that which is promoted by the SNP, seeks an inclusive society based on where you are, not where you’re from.
People that back independence for Scotland don’t do so because of a hatred of others as Mr Khan thinks.
There are many reasons for doing this, a deep concern over increasing British xenophobia, the desire for a more equal and inclusive society, or concerns over the increasing isolation of the UK through Brexit.
Alex Orr.
77 Leamington Terrace,
Edinburgh.
Valid point by Mr Salmond
Sir, – On Monday you published a letter from Regina Erich attacking Alex Salmond for allegedly accusing the media of bias, which she suggested was “designed to undermine trust in independent, questioning journalism as one of the pillars of liberal democracy”.
I’m not sure how she would reconcile this with the findings of a YouGov poll published just a few weeks earlier which found that 27% of those polled felt that the British media was biased (to the right), the highest percentage of perceived bias of any of the seven European countries polled.
Then there was a research study by Reuters Institute for the study of Journalism in May 2016, leading up to the Brexit referendum, which found that, of almost 1,000 referendum articles in the popular press, 45% were in favour of Leave, while 27% backed Remain.
A report in Media Magazine in May 2015 stated that “95% of tabloid editorials in the run-up to that year’s election were anti-Labour”.
In the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, when 45% of the electorate voted for independence, of all the mainstream media, only one newspaper backed independence.
So perhaps Mr Salmond has a point.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Nationalism splits Scotland
Sir, – It is very clear what Sadiq Khan meant by the divisiveness of nationalist politics in general and the SNP variety in particular.
Their fury is that of all bullies. They hate it when their dirty little secret gets out, especially when the message goes across the UK from a highly-respected politician.
There are many examples. They include blaming the problems of the deprived and poor on the rich and “their austerity”, referring to No voters as “yoons” (as Alex Salmond did) and independence backers bigging up Scotland against “Westmonster” at any opportunity, usually to the detriment of proper debate.
The whole “Scottish six” saga, including the SNP’s graceless acceptance of a fantastic result, is an example.
Nicola Sturgeon’s wooing of Ireland, and John Mason’s remarks on British soldiers killed in Ireland don’t help protestant and republican relations in the west of Scotland but might just get a few more Catholic votes.
Mr Khan has done us all a favour by legitimising, defining and publicising the topic beyond Scotland.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Will Kezia get London call?
Sir, – Do we not have enough local politicians of our own that we have to import Sadiq Khan from London? It will be interesting to see if Kezia Dugdale gets such a major platform during the next London mayoral contest. I think not.
Laurie Richards.
100 Crail Road,
Cellardyke.
What England gave Scotland
Sir, – Another Wednesday, another dreary anti-SNP diatribe from your columnist Jenny Hjul. She is just a one-trick pony. And why do we need her anyway?
Your letters column has been teeming with anti-SNP bile from Tories who are running scared of a second independence referendum.
Can I make a few points to these people? Scotland is not a northern county of England. It is a country in its own right. The Scots did not vote for a Tory Government; courtesy of the English they got one.
They did not vote for Brexit. Again, courtesy of the English they got Brexit.
It must occur to even the most committed unionist that there is obviously a democratic deficit in Scotland.
A last point. My daughter moved back home after some years living in London.
She had to see her doctor about a slight medical ailment, was given a prescription and returned from the chemist with some medicines. “That would have cost me £25 in London,” she remarked.
Yes, free prescriptions introduced by Nicola Sturgeon, pictured, when she was health secretary. And that must be a boon to most of the workforce who are trying to live on the minimum wage and zero-hour contracts imposed by this pernicious Tory Westminster Government.
Jim Robertson.
194 High Street,
Montrose.